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With the end of the silly season in sight, I’m focussing on the calm, blue waters of the holidays on the other side, and what I see is Time. Time to read, time to write, time to think.<\/p>\nWith the end of the silly season in sight, I’m focussing on the calm, blue waters of the holidays on the other side, and what I see is Time. Time to read, time to write, time to think.<\/p>\n
I find the couple of weeks after Christmas afford me an excellent opportunity to catch up on enjoyable things I’ve been meaning to do for – well, forever.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of podcast episodes you might have missed. You might remember my post here where six fabulous Australian YA authors talk about writing<\/a>. This time around, I’m focussing on those authors we’ve interviewed who write for children.<\/p>\n If you’re hoping to be published in this area one day, why not set aside some time over the holidays to have a listen – or read the transcripts. Click the episode link to do both or either.<\/strong><\/p>\n Allison Rushby <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Allison Rushby is the Australian author of ‘lots of books’ for kids and for adults. Her last middle-grade book ‘How To Save The Universe in 10 Easy Steps’ was shortlisted for the 2014 Readings Book Prize, and she has a new novel, The Turnkey<\/em><\/a>, for that age group coming out in March 2017. Episode 4<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Alexa Moses<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Alexa Moses is a\u00a0journalist, screenwriter and author of the Jenna Bookallil-Brown series about Ancient Egypt for tweens. She talks with us about writing children\u2019s fiction, plotting versus pantsing, and how to write history without sounding like a textbook. Episode 11.<\/a><\/p>\n Allison Tait <\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, Valerie surprised me with an on-the-spot interview. If you’d like to hear about my days as a magazine journalist, how I started writing fiction, how I juggle work, family and writing, and all about the inspiration for The Mapmaker Chronicles<\/a>, it’s all here. Episode 44<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Judith Rossell <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Judith Rossell has been writing and illustrating children\u2019s books for more than 12 years and has written 12 books and illustrated more than 80. She teaches The Writing Picture Books course for the Australian Writers\u2019 Centre in Melbourne. When we spoke, her highly acclaimed junior novel,\u00a0Withering-by-Sea<\/a>, <\/em>had been s<\/em>hort-listed for the 2015 Indie Book Awards (which it went on to win).\u00a0The sequel, Wormwood Mire<\/em>, was released this year. Episode 51<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Andy Griffiths<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Andy Griffiths is one of Australia\u2019s most popular children\u2019s authors. Andy is best known for The Treehouse<\/em> series, the JUST!<\/em> books and The Day My Bum Went Psycho<\/em>. Over the last 20 years Andy\u2019s books have been New York Times<\/em> bestsellers, adapted for the stage and television and won more than 50 Australian children\u2019s choice awards. We spoke just before the release of\u00a0The 65-Storey Treehouse.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n This interview contains one of the most serious conversations about bums I’ve ever experienced.\u00a0Episode 67<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Nicholas and Alison Lochel <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This brother and sister team make up the dynamic duo behind the Zarkora<\/a> series. I spoke to Nicholas about how they manage the co-writing process, their experiences with both self-publishing and traditional publishing, and how to write a series. Episode 70<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Robert Hoge<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Robert Hoge has worked as a journalist, a speechwriter, a science communicator for the CSIRO and a political advisor to the former Queensland Premier and Deputy Premier. He has had numerous short stories, articles, interviews and other works published in Australia and overseas.<\/p>\n In 2013, Robert’s memoir, Ugly<\/em>, was published by Hachette Australia. In 2015, a children’s\u00a0version of the book was released and has gone on to be published internationally. \u00a0Episode 79<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Danny Parker <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Danny Parker is the author of the\u00a0young reader\u2019s series, Lola\u2019s Toybox<\/em>, published by Hardy Grant (seven books and counting), as well as . His fourth published picture book\u00a0Perfect<\/em>, illustrated by Freya Blackwood, received Honours in the CBCA Book Of The Year Awards (Early Childhood).<\/p>\n When we spoke, Perfect<\/em> was just about to be published, and he had eight other picture books in the pipeline…\u00a0Episode 81<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tristan Bancks<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Tristan Bancks is a children\u2019s and teen author with a background in acting and film-making. His books include the My Life<\/em> series, Mac Slater, Cool Hunter<\/em>, which was published in Australia and the US, and Two Wolves<\/em>, a crime mystery novel for middle graders. Two Wolves<\/em>\u00a0received Honours in the 2015 CBCA\u00a0Book of the Year Award, and, when we spoke, had just won the YABBA Award for years 7-9, decided by the Young Readers of Victoria.\u00a0Episode 84<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Hazel Edwards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Best known for the children\u2019s literature classic, There\u2019s a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake <\/em>series, Hazel Edwards writes for children, teenagers, and adults. She has had more than 200 books published, and, when we spoke, had recently written a memoir of her life and work, called Not Just a Piece of Cake: Being an Author<\/em>.<\/p>\n She is a great advocate for authors, and has a terrific book on Authorpreneurship<\/a> available.\u00a0Episode 96<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jen Storer\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Jen Storer has written 18 books for children, including the best-selling Truly Tan<\/em> series, for which she won a 2014 Davitt Award, and the acclaimed gothic fantasy, Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children<\/em>, which was shortlisted for everything from the CBCA Book of the Year Awards to the Prime Minister\u2019s Literary Awards in 2010.<\/p>\n When we spoke, her first picture book, Clarrie\u2019s Pig Day Out, illustrated by Sue deGennaro, was about to be released.\u00a0Episode 98<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meg McKinlay\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Meg Mckinlay is a children\u2019s writer and poet who lives near the ocean in Fremantle, Western Australia. Her publications range from picture books, chapter books and young adult novels through to poetry for adults. When we spoke,\u00a0her children\u2019s novel, A Single Stone<\/em>, had just been\u00a0awarded the 2015 Aurealis Award for Best Children\u2019s Fiction.<\/p>\n It went on to receive Honours in\u00a0the 2016 CBCA Book Of The Year Award (Older Readers), and won the 2016 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction.\u00a0Episode 103.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sue Whiting<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Sue Whiting\u00a0is the author of more than 60 books and\u00a0has worked in the publishing industry for over 15\u00a0years.\u00a0Sue\u2019s nature storybook,\u00a0Platypus<\/em>,\u00a0was a \u00a0Notable Book in the 2016 Children\u2019s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards.\u00a0Her junior novel Get a Grip, Cooper Jones<\/em> was a Notable Book in the 2011 Children\u2019s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Awards, and her picture book, A Swim in the Sea<\/em>, won Speech Pathologists Australia\u2019s 2014 Book of the Year.<\/p>\n Sue was Senior Commissioning Editor and Publishing Manager at Walker Books Australia for more than 10 years.\u00a0\u00a0Episode 109<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Belinda Murrell <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Belinda Murrell is a best-selling internationally published children\u2019s author with a legion of loyal fans and a history of writing in her family that span over 200 years. Her 21 books include the Sun Sword<\/em> fantasy trilogy, as well the newly released Lulu Bell<\/em> series for younger readers, and a collection of time-slip tales,\u00a0which have been recognised through a host of awards.<\/p>\n When we spoke, The Lost Sapphire,\u00a0<\/em>her latest time-slip tale, had just been released.\u00a0Episode 113<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Richard Roxburgh<\/strong><\/p>\n Richard Roxburgh is one of Australia\u2019s best-loved and most versatile actors. For his work in films like Moulin Rouge!<\/em> to the lead role in TV\u2019s Rake<\/em>, as well as his many highly acclaimed performances with the Sydney Theatre Company, Richard Roxburgh has become a household name.<\/p>\n We spoke soon after the release of Artie and the Grime Wave<\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0his first book for children.\u00a0Episode 130.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n